"The concept
of race in a proper sense was only useful during
old Atlantis [corresponding to Tertiary and Quaternary in the view of
the late Steiner]. Therefore, as we describe
a real evolution of humanity, we have not
used the concept of race for the post-Atlantean time [the time after
the last glacial ages]. We don't speak of an Indian race and so on,
as it isn't proper any more. We speak of an Old Indian
cultural
epoch, of an Old Persian cultural epoch
and so on.

"It would make
completely
no sense if we were to say that we in our
time were preparing for a sixth 'race'. If we in our time still see remains
of the old Atlantean differences, remaining old group soulness, so that
you still can speak of a differentiation into races - what is preparing
itself for the sixth epoch consists specifically in getting rid of and
leaving behind that which is 'racial character'. That is the important
thing.

"Therefore it is
necessary, that the movement which
is called the anthroposophical movement, that prepares for the sixth epoch
in its basic character, takes up especially this task of getting rid of
what
is related to 'racial character' and
unites
people
of all races, of all nations and in this way bridges
this differentiation, these differences, this abyss, that exists
between different groups of people. Because the
old racial points of view have a physical
character, and what
will develop into the future has a spiritual character.

"That is the reason
it is so urgently necessary that our anthroposophical movement is a spiritual
movement, that looks at that which is spiritual and overcomes specifically
that which is based on physical differences, out of the force of this spirituality.

"It is completely
understandable that every movement has its childhood
illnesses and that at the beginning of the theosophical movement one
described what it is about as if the evolution of the Earth so to speak
was differentiated into seven epochs - they were called 'main races' [here
'main races' refers to the theosophical concept of
seven
"root races"] - and that every 'root
race' was differentiated into seven 'sub-races', and that everything would
repeat itself that way for ever, so that you for ever could speak of seven
'races' and seven 'sub-races'.

"But one has to overcome
this childhood illness and become clear that
the concept of race ceases to have any meaning / importance specifically
in our time.

"Something else is
preparing itself - something that in the most eminent sense has to do with
the human individuality - the ever more increasing individualization of
man. What is important is that this development
of the individuality is supported in the right way, and the anthroposophical
movement has to support this development of individuality in man in the
right way.''

Rudolf
Steiner 4 December 1909, in: The deeper secrets of the development of humanity
in the light of the gospels (GA 117).